Astrofest, DeGrasse Tyson, George Takei – lucky Sydney

There are a number of cool geeky events coming to Sydney over the coming months.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson will be in Sydney on July 29 with Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Cosmic Perspective. In a format that’s becoming increasingly common, the event will consist of a 30-minute presentation by Neil deGrasse Tyson, followed by a 30-minute conversation between Neil deGrasse Tyson and a special guest host, and a 30-minute audience Q&A. Tickets are available for this stage-side chat in the, also now common, $60-170 range. Details and booking here.

I’m not usually one for promoting actors who play science fiction, or other characters – I simply don’t ‘get’ the conflation of the actor with the character. But I’m going to make an exception with George Takei the legendary Sulu from Star Trek but also now “Social Media Icon and Human Rights Activist” coming to Sydney. He’s live on stage on August 11 with tickets in the $80-400 range. Details and booking here.

Lastly, back in the real world there’s Astrofest 2017. It’s a program of free, yes FREE, indoor and outdoor astronomy entertainment, suitable for all the family:

night-sky telescope viewing,

awesome astronomy talks – including an interactive Q&A session just for children

planetarium show – several sessions of Capturing the Cosmos,

expert interactive activities and demonstrations, and

prizes to win

It all takes place at the University of Sydney from 4-9pm on Saturday 1 July. There are a bunch of cool speakers, movies to see, real stars to be watched, and it costs not a bean. All the details are here.